Sen. Parley Hellewell, R-Orem, said Wednesday that he is looking into possible legislation [tax funded superstition] to restore "what was done for the first 150 years" in regards to educational texts [tax funded superstition], public prayer [tax funded superstition] and religious displays [tax funded superstition]. Although he has not decided "what needs to be run or could be run," almost all of the possibilities he is considering — for example, the Bible as a school textbook [tax funded superstition] or allowing religious prayers at school events [tax funded superstition] and all government meetings [tax funded superstition] — would almost surely become lightning rods for controversy and constitutional challenges. [...] Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Valley, has considered sponsoring a bill bringing intelligent design to Utah schools [tax funded superstition], but he said last week he is backing away from the idea for now. "If you can teach evolution, you should be able to teach the Bible [tax funded superstition]," he said.
The "wall of separation" phrase was originally coined by President Thomas Jefferson, although Hellewell said the meaning is continually misinterpreted, just as the Founding Fathers' religious beliefs, or lack of them, are inaccurately portrayed. "They are all things that are made up, just like the separation of church and state was made up," Hellewell said during a meeting of the Government Operations Interim Committee [Sen. Hellewell, I'd love to talk with you about things that are made up]. Instead of focusing on the rights of the minority by prohibiting prayer, he would prefer to grant the majority the right to pray publicly without forcing the minority to join. "When you don't allow prayer in schools, we're letting a minority religion — atheism — rule," he said [atheism is not a religion, minority or otherwise].
[I'm all for people mumbling to whatever invisible monster that lives in the sky they like, but do it on their own dime and on their own time. If we use tax dollars to fund one superstition we must then either (a) establish a state religion or (b) fund all the superstitions equally. No money for roads this year, Supreme Hu-Hu the Spider Elk needed a new golden temple and five thousand retainers.]
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